The document discusses the effects of industrialization in the United States after the Civil War. It analyzes how industrialization impacted society, the economy, and politics between 1865 and 1920. Key effects included the rise of big businesses, regional economic differences between the South and West, and mass migration from rural to urban areas. Specific groups like farmers, the aged, immigrants, and the poor saw their lives change. The average working American experienced changes like mechanization, child labor, unionization, and workers' rights reforms during this period of industrialization.

1. Running Head: INDUSTRIALIZATION AND CIVIL WAR
1
INDUSTRIALIZATION AND CIVIL WAR
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Industrialization and its Effects to Americans after the Civil
War Thesis and Outline
Date
Thesis
Gradually after the Civil War experienced in United States,
America showed a marked progress in industrialization which
improved the lifestyle of citizens in a number of ways. On the
other hand, industrialization introduced a number of problems
in the American society.
Outline
I. Three major aspects of industrialization between 1865 and
1920 that influenced US society, economy, and politics
a. The economy registered an increase in the number of big
businesses. The industries where now able to produce goods
which were highly valued, more than ten times the value they
produced before. This was due to improved production methods
and mechanized processes to supplement human labor. New
products were also created as a product of many investors and
business leaders coming up with innovations. Proper utilization
of natural resources also favored the growth of big business in
this nation. Improved communication and transport systems
allowed for smooth business transactions hence expansion of a
number of businesses. New banks and other financial
institutions were continuously finding a place in this land
(A.U.C., 2015).
b. There was marked difference between the South and the
West. Those living in the South were found to lag behind in
terms of economic growth as they embarked on rebuilding their

2. society which was adversely destroyed during the Civil War. At
this time, industries were being developed in the West and
eventually the South was left to be an agricultural backyard.
The western frontier was dumped as the Congress enacted the
Homestead Act to resettle the immigrants (Metmuseum.org,
2015).
c. Introduction of an industrial boom as people migrated from
the rural areas to urban areas to work in industries. The life in
the cities took a drastic change to put individuals into three
categories; the wealthy, middle class and the underprivileged
(Ushistory.org, 2015).
II. List five (5) specific groups affected by industrialization and
two examples for each.
A. Farmers
1. Due to mechanization of farming processes, they were able to
increase on their produce.
2. Increased farm produce led to increased income hence
improvements in terms of life style.
B. The Aged
1. They were left on their own in the rural areas as young
people moved to urban areas to work in the industries.
2. The rural areas lagged behind as energetic people, hoped to
bring developments, moved to urban areas hence the living
conditions for the aged were found to be very poor.
C. Middle men
1. They owned railway lines and mills. They ended up with a
big share of what came from farm products.
2. They operated on their own to determine what they could
charge the farmers for the services offered hence they
concentrated a lot of wealth.
D. Immigrants
1. The Homestead Act passed by the Congress resettled them
finally and they had time to raise their families and venture into
business.

3. 2. They were able to utilize their land for farming and seek
financial help from banks.
E. The poor
1. Reformers passed laws which sought to improve the living
standards in slums where the poor lived.
2. Public education was greatly expanded to include everybody
and employers were instructed to protect workers from any form
of injury.
III. List five (5) ways that industrialization affected the life of
the average working American during this period
A. Mechanization reduced the overall workload and simplified
the entire production processes.
B. There was an influx of laborers due to the high number of
immigrants looking for job opportunities in the industries.
C. Children ended up working in mines and factories hence high
cases of child labor were reported.
D. Workers were depersonalized in the long run.
E. Cases of workers riots and strikes came up. Formation of
Labor Unions came to reality to address issues affecting
workers (American-historama.org, 2015).
References
American-historama.org,. (2015). Industrialization in America
for kids: Causes and
Effects ***. Retrieved 19 July 2015, from http://www.american-
historama.org/1866-1881-reconstruction-
era/industrialization.htm
A.U.C., A. (2015). History of the United States,
Industrialization and reform –
TheUSAonline.com. Theusaonline.com. Retrieved 19 July 2015,
from http://www.theusaonline.com/history/industrialization.htm
Metmuseum.org,. (2015). Industrialization and Conflict in
America: 1840–1875 |
Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 19 July 2015, from
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/indu/hd_indu.htm
Ushistory.org,. (2015). Economic Growth and the Early

4. Industrial Revolution
[ushistory.org]. Retrieved 19 July 2015, from
http://www.ushistory.org/us/22a.asp